Do's and Don'ts for Dining Out with Kids

As a parent, do you ever wonder if there’s life after kids when it comes to dining out? Have you vowed never to set foot in another chain restaurant, especially the kind that provides toys with their meals, as long as you live? Do you think that taking your family out to eat is too expensive? 

Granted, there can be a bit of trepidation when it comes to taking children to restaurants that cater to adults. And true, the issue of whether it is appropriate to take young kids out to eat at “nice” establishments has been a long and heated debate, with staunch supporters on both sides of the camp. 

But when families demonstrate respect and common courtesy to restaurateurs, food service employees and fellow patrons, it goes a long way towards repairing the oft portrayed image of self-indulgent parents who wine and dine the night away oblivious of their children, armed with sippy cups and drippy noses, running amuck.

The benefits of familiarizing your child with restaurants at an early age are compelling. Just think how proud you and your child will be as he expands his interpersonal, communication and kinesthetic skills. He'll learn valuable lessons on how to:

• Conduct himself with proper decorum and etiquette in public
• Expand his repertoire of social interactions
• Feel comfortable in new settings and among adults
• Strengthen reading skills as he navigates his way through menus
• Expand his independence and speaking skills as he learns how to order for himself
• Gain appreciation for a wider variety of foods

All it takes is a little patience and planning to have an enjoyable dining experience with your kids. And, there are money-saving ways to make it affordable! Here are 18 simple tips to help you get your pre-kid dining groove back.  

DO

• Make reservations whenever possible. A seemingly never-ending wait to be seated can turn your normally chipper child into a whining, inconsolable mess. When you call, it's a good time to mention that you will need a high chair or booster seat if available. Many restaurants only have a few of them on hand, so they might need to “hold” one for you.
• Take advantage of special deals. Dining out doesn’t have to put a major dent in your wallet. Plenty of restaurants run promotions where kids eat for free or nearly free on designated days and times of the week. There are a number of resources that publish roundups such as the ones below, but always call ahead to verify that the deal is still valid:

1. Mykidseatfree
2. Kidsmealdeals
3. Kidseat4free
4. Kidseatfor
5. Frugalliving
   In addition to kid’s promotions, other sites offer dining deals that you can purchase online. These include:

1. Groupon
2. MyJoffer
3. Bloomspot
4. FreshGuide
5. Townhog

• Check the side dishes and a la carte items. Oftentimes, these are substantial enough to satiate your child and come with a price tag that is on par with the kids’ menu. Some restaurants will do half portions, so it doesn’t hurt to ask. If you like to dine out on a regular basis, these types of incentives can add up to significant savings. 
• Go early. Generally, if you go before a restaurant’s peak hours, you can get in and out with minimal fuss and maximum attention from the kitchen and wait staff. This can also be a cost saver, as some restaurants offer Early Bird/Twilight specials and bargain bites and beverages during Happy Hour.
• Be respectful and courteous of others. Just because you and your friends belong to the stroller set, doesn’t mean that the rest of the world wants to share in your parenting experience. If your child acts up during the meal, simply step outside together until he regains composure. Rather than park your stroller in the main dining room where it may get in the way of the front of house, ask if there is a place to fold and stow it away during the meal. And, if you are nursing, be sure to keep baby’s meal time experience between yourselves; cover up as a courtesy to others who may not want a clear view of your bosom.
• Expect good behavior. Set your expectations in advance. Explain to your younger child that you are going to a restaurant so you expect top-notch behavior. That includes speaking with an indoor voice, sitting on his bottom in the chair, and chewing food with his mouth closed. During the meal, encourage your child to say “please” and “thank you” whenever appropriate. If you have more than one child, at least in the early stages of dining out, it's wise to keep kids separated, with an adult in between. This will reduce the chances of your children being silly or picking a fight with one another. When you get home, reward your child for a job well done by exchanging a big high five, hug, and maybe even give him a couple of stickers. This will help reinforce desired behaviors in a positive way.
• Allow your child to place her order by herself. Preschoolers are old enough to do this, with a little coaching at first. This will give your child a sense of independence as well as a vested interest in the food she has chosen. Plus, she will reap the added benefit of learning how to communicate what she wants in a clear, poised manner.
• Take your child’s likes and dislikes into consideration. Even though you may relish the thought of going for an exotic dining experience, now may not be the time to try new ethnic foods or molecular gastronomy. If your child doesn’t recognize it, he may not eat it. Initially, suggest items that look familiar or are prepared in a similar manner to ones he knows, particularly if they have equal or better nutritional value. For instance, if your child enjoys French fries, recommend sweet potato fries instead. And if he likes them, he can try baked sweet potato fries next time as a healthier alternative. But, if you are met with resistance, don’t sweat it and try again another time. 
• Encourage healthy choices. It is never too early to help your child form good eating habits. Kids’ menus are often laden with fried and starchy foods that actually don’t taste very good. A better choice is to order off of the regular menu. Remember that fries and pasta can often be swapped for salad or sliced fruit. 
• Pack a few favorite snacks. This can be the saving grace during longer than expected wait times, or dishes that fail in your child’s eyes. Instead of having to drop everything and get the bill before your meal is half eaten, you can buy yourself a little time by bringing portable items your child always enjoys. Mini boxes of raisins, granola bars, popcorn, string cheese and crackers, sliced fruit and even a container of soup can make the difference between a pleasant or dismal night out with the kids.
• Introduce your child to an interactive dining experience. There is no reason why mealtime can’t be fun. The more opportunities they have to participate, the more likely they are to experiment with ingredients and eat what they cook. Do it yourself teppan-yaki and shabu style restaurants are a great option. They typically have something to please everyone’s palates from friendly carbs such as rice and noodles to meat and vegetable dishes. Just be sure to supervise young chefs carefully, as the grills and pots are very hot.